output are awe-inspiring . “ I think the writing process is the funnest part ,” he admits . “ It ’ s the hardest part , but it ’ s also the part when you get it right . It ’ s the high that is kind of hard to talk about . So , in some way , I look at songwriting as my addiction – a healthy addiction . It ’ s just the need to continue to create and work through whatever ’ s going on in my life and let that work itself out through lyrics or through the music or through melodies . I just really enjoy it . And if the day comes when ���� ����� ������ ���� ����� ����� ������ ���������� else out . But , for the time being , as long as there ’ s something to pull from , I ’ ll keep trying to do it .”
Kennedy is about to embark on a European / UK solo tour that launches in Oct . and goes through December before a headlining US tour begins in Jan . 2025 — which includes the opening date in Joliet at the Forge on Jan . 17 . “ What I like most about playing Chicago is that it ’ s one of the most beautiful cities on this ������������ �������� ��������� ��� ��������� ���������������������������������������������� the late nineties , and I remember just really ������������������������������������������������ time I ’ d been there and I got to experience the ��������������������������������������������������� tours there ’ s certain cities that really stuck out and that was always one of them . In Europe , as far as the fan base , it ’ s just a little bigger there . But I feel like it ’ s evolving here in the States and we ’ re just still continuing to try and build it . It ’ s been nice to see that start to pay ������������������������������������������������ that that ’ s the name of the game when you ’ re touring ; you just gotta keep coming back . So I ’ m looking forward to getting back there .”
When preparing the band ’ s setlist for the upcoming tour — in which preliminary rehearsals have already begun — half of the new songs from the new record have already been test-driven . Deciding which tracks make the setlist is the fun part for Kennedy . “ You ’ ve got to be careful because , as the artist , you ’ re familiar with the songs , and you can ’ t wait to play them ,” he says . “ But you have to remember that the people showing up to the show may have just gotten the record , don ’ t have the record at all , or just know the singles . So , that ’ s something that you ’ ll always have to take into consideration . For the rest of the set we ’ ve got now , there are three full records to choose from . I ’ ll probably still pepper a few of those other things here and there , maybe �� �������� ����� ��� ������ ��� ������ ������ acoustic thing . We ’ ll see as we get closer to the tour .”
With Kennedy ’ s solo dates for The Art of Letting Go already booked , it would dictate that �������������������������������������������� back burner until the middle or end of 2025 . �������� ������ ��� ��� ��� ���� �������� ����� for both bands without giving up too many secrets . “ In a perfect world , we ’ d get back in the studio and keep moving forward ,” he concludes . “ It ’ s just a matter of when that will happen , given everybody ’ s current situation . And that ’ s a good problem to have . When you ’ re in a business where if you can have one band that ’ s doing something to where if you ’ re having a certain amount of success , then you ’ re lucky . And with all of us , we ’ ve all got these multiple projects that we ’ re pulling from . The only negative is that it ’ s a bit of a nightmare from a scheduling standpoint . So , we ’ ll get it worked out and hopefully get back in the studio .”
Appearing at The Forge on January 17 , 2025 . october 2024 illinoisentertainer . com 23